Daybreak . . .

Photo: K. Iuppa
Daybreak. Have begun to plant our gardens.  Worked many hours yesterday.  I'm sure our seedlings are wiggling their toes in their new space. Still have more to do.  Hopefully we'll complete the work this week.
I think we put in over 65 tomato plants as well as a variety of beans, eggplant, zucchini to feed the world, yellow squash, lettuces, peas, cabbage, Swiss chard, potatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, beets, and more.

Thankfully the rainy weather has passed and we've had a lot of sunshine.  The earth is warming up.
A lot is changing.  Have been finishing up some year long residency work and  have begun some hefty writing projects. Hopefully, I will be able to accomplish these over the summer.

Wishing all of you a healthy and prosperous summer.

Publishing News

Good News:  My prose chapbook collection Between Worlds, which was a finalist in  Split Oak Press Contest 2011, has been accepted for publication by Foothills Publishing.  It will be released mid-fall 2012. I'm so excited about this.

Recent poems accepted  by Hobble Creek Review, Medulla Times, scissors and spackle, The Indian River Review, and Le Mot Juste, 2012.

Upcoming . . .Workshop at Olean Library, 5/12/2012

Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop at Olean Library 

 134 North 2nd Street
Olean, NY 14760 

May 12, 2012, 11-1 p.m.

Calling all poets who would enjoy a free poetry workshop.  Here's an opportunity to jump start your summer writing projects. 

Bring your imaginations, journals, pencils, pens and I'll bring some new ways of creating poems inspired by art.

We'll be busy every minute. Hope to see you there!

I haven't been to Olean, NY in quite a few years, but I'm looking forward to the drive to the Southern Tier.  It makes me very nostalgic.

 

Departures . . .

 

Photo by K. Iuppa

Now the school year is officially over.  Time to be reflective and look back on the academic year. What was stellar?  What could stand a bit more polish? Went to the honors ceremony and graduation at St. John Fisher College and was so happy for all the students (and parents) who crossed the finish line.  It's such a big moment for all concerned; even us, the faculty who have nudged the students along to achieve their goal(s). It was such a pleasure seeing all those victorious thumbs up raised to the crowd. Graduation is a remarkable threshold. These students will float out of our lives for a bit, then return with more stories of success. I'm  so proud of the talented men and women I have had the opportunity to work with. I know the world awaits them and they're going to take their opportunities and continue their good work.To all of you, Class of 2012!

Pax Vobis.

May Day, May Day . . .Graduation Two Days Away

Swan Pond by K Iuppa
 May 3, 2012

Warmer weather now. Still no confirmation about our apple trees.  We're all worried that this year will turn out apple-less. It happened once before in 1945--   weather similar to our past Winter and Spring-- not one apple in New York State. That's not good news for us apple growers, not to mention apple lovers. Oh. I do hope we get some apples this year.  Our trees alternate high production, and this year was suppose to be the big crop year. We should check now.  We were told to cut the blossom in half and see if there's a black spot (sounds like a lottery, doesn't it)  If there's a black spot, we're doomed. . . .